Skip to main content

  

Society

Informed key research investigating society and culture in the current climate. Read our influential research below or return to our Impact Hub.

Gaming the system: how scenario exploration can change how we view the future

Dr John Hirst and Dr Cat Spellman share how an innovative learning tool can help build crucial skills in Futures Thinking
White woman in red jumper meditating with eyes closed surrounded by cartoon lightbulbs above her head in a semicircle

I want to believe: the psychology of climate change conspiracy theories

Dr Aarron Atkinson-Toal, Assistant Professor in Marketing and International Business, on how shareable content leads to the real threat of fake news.
Pinocchio puppet in red outfit with long nose and small green plant growing out of it

The impact of digital communication on employee wellbeing

Does digital communication in the workplace help us, or hinder us? Barbara Bechter, Associate Professor in Human Resources Management, shares her findings.
Unhappy man in background with digital blue lines in foreground

The economic consequences of fatal landslides

As the chances of extreme weather events increase, Dr Martin Robson, Associate Professor of Economics, looks at the impact of economic factors on fatalities.
Landslide amongst a forest

Making workplaces equitable and inclusive: one micro-practice at a time

Professor Martyna Śliwa, Professor of Business Ethics and Organisation Studies, shares her research on inequality in the workplace.
Work colleagues smiling in office black and white

How terrorism kills innovation and kicks out human talent

When unthinkable events such as terrorism occur, the impacts can be devastating, long-lasting and far more widespread than anyone might immediately consider.
Text on a white background with an explosion animation

Follow back?

Would Elon Musk’s Twitter be the democratic free speech haven he claims? Dr Mariann Hardey reflects on the billionaire’s deal to buy the social media platform.
White rat with cheese

Exploring the circular economy

How giving electronics a new lease of life could also help save the planet. Professor Kieran Fernandes explains how academic research can help industry.
Phone with a error message face in red

Why ethical use of AI robots must incorporate accountability and moral intensity

For many businesses, investing in AI improves productivity, boosts revenue, increases accuracy and opens new avenues for industry. But, this isn’t without risk…
Robot with laser light from eye

Can you control impulses? Can someone else?

Research led by Professors Sarah Xiao and Mike Nicholson enabled companies to build new marketing toolkits, resulting in significant financial gains.
Illustration of man pushing trolleys up purple arrow

How long can USS members expect to live?

How high are Universities Superannuation Scheme members’ mortality rates, and what does that mean for the future? Professor Kevin Dowd and colleagues investigate
Hands on a chalkboard surrounding piggy bank drawing

An inclusive, diverse and equal place to learn

The Business School is committed to becoming a more inclusive environment for learning. Dr Gretchen Larsen explains the latest developments.
An inclusive, diverse and equal place to learn

Coping with Covid: the extra challenges faced by UK migrants

As Covid-19 secured its grip on the UK our government and social bodies acted to put a number of schemes and measures in place.

Empowering North East communities through research

Dr Ladan Cockshut discusses how the University is supporting local regeneration projects through knowledge exchange.
Empowering North East communities through adaptable research

Exposing the stigma around social housing

For those living in social housing, the extreme stigmatisation of estates has had an impact on everything from employment to healthcare.
Exposing the stigma around social housing

Pandemic-speak: lessons learned from dealing with COVID

Professors Russell Craig and Joel Amernic discuss how leaders in business and politics across the globe have used rhetoric to tackle the pandemic.
Pandemic-speak: lessons learned from dealing with COVID

Researching police wellbeing

Professor Les Graham’s research delves into the mental and physical welfare of the police workforce across the whole of the UK.
Researching police wellbeing

Averting a cultural catastrophe

How Durham University is supporting the creative community during the pandemic. How Durham University is supporting the creative community.
Durham cathedral at the lumiere

Is speech really free?

It is easy to feel a sense of injustice where our conversations, as a form of data, provoke reactions, and enable the monetisation of social media.

Neurodiversity at work benefits everyone

Change perceptions and highlight the benefits that hiring people with different ways of thinking can bring.

Protecting the 'forgotten' workforce

Workers in precarious employment, including zero-hours contracts (ZHCs), have had a much more worrying and uncertain time than most.

The world is changing... or is it?

How do we know that life expectancy is increasing or that climate change is a looming threat?

  

Impact Hub

Explore more of our research.